Panic release door stop



Nov. 10, 1964 R. w. SCHMID 3,156,003

PANIC RELEASE DOOR STOP Filed April 27, 1962 3 Q yMo/vo M Scum/o A trap/v5 United States Patent company of Uhio Filed Apr. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 199,671 6 Qlaims. (Cl. 16-85) This invention relates to a panic release door stop which normally prevents opening of a swinging door in one direction, but which will yield under force to allow opening of the door in the one direction under emergency conditions.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a simple, relatively inexpensive door stop of this type which may be easily mounted on the inside surface of the door, which will not mar the surface of the door or the door frame during operation, and which may be easily reset manually without tools after it has been released.

To this end, the door stop of the invention includes a mounting member adapted to be secured to the inner surface of the door, and a dog, preferably in the form of a roller, extending from one side of the mounting member and adapted to engage the edge of the door frame to prevent opening of the door in one direction. The dog is mounted on the mounting member for both pivotal and linear movement. During normal operation of the door, the dog is spring-pressed to a position opposite a limiting surface on the mounting member which prevents pivotal movement of the dog away from the door frame. When, however, emergency conditions arise, and sufiicient force is applied to the door, the dog moves linearly through yielding of the spring until it clears the limiting surface on the mounting member, and then pivots away from the door frame to allow opening of the door in the one direction.

As a feature of the invention, the mounting member is provided with a second limiting surface against which the dog is urged by the spring after it has been pivoted to the released position to hold it in this position. The dog may be easily reset manually without special tools by merely pushing it oif the second limiting surface so that the spring returns the dog to the door stopping position opposite the first limiting surface on the mounting member.

Through this novel arrangement, substantially the full force of the spring is utilized to prevent the door from being opened in the one direction, while very little additional force is necessary to pivot the dog to released position once it has cleared the first limit surface. This minimizes marring of the door frame as the door swings open in the one direction.

The invention and its advantages having been broadly described, a more detailed description of one embodiment of the invention is given hereafter by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a door and door frame incorporating a panic release stop constructed in accordance with the invention, and showing the stop in a position preventing swinging of the door in one direction;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view similar to that of FIG. 1, but showing the releasing of the door stop under emergency conditions to allow opening of the door in the one direction;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the door stop mounted on the surface of the door;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the dog and mounting structure removed from the body portion.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, the panic release door stop, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, is shown mounted on the inner surface of a door D. The door D is mounted for swinging movement in both directions by means of a double hinge H. During normal operation of the door, a dog or roller 11, forming a part of the door stop, engages the inner surface of the door frame F, thereby preventing swinging of the door D in the direction of the arrow A, while allowing the door to swing in the direction of the arrow B.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the roller 11 is mounted for free rotation on a pin 12. The pin 12 in turn is secured between projections 13 and 14 extending from legs 15 and 16 of a channel shaped roller supporting member 17.

The roller supporting member 17 is slidably mounted on a mounting member 18, with the legs 15 and 16 extending along opposite sides 19 and 20 of the mounting member 18, and with the roller 11 engaging the front surface 21 of the mounting member 18.

A pivot pin 22 is secured to and extends between the free ends of the legs 15 and 16 and through a slot 23 which extends through the mounting member from the side 19 to the opposite side 20. A pair of compression springs 24 and 25 are mounted in a pair of spaced bores 26 and 27, which extend inwardly from the base 28 of the mounting member 18 and beyond the inner end of the slot 23. The springs 24 and 25 bear at one end against the bottoms 29 and 3d of the bores 26 and 27 and hear at the other end against the pivot pin 22, so that the roller supporting member 17 and the roller 11 carried thereby are normally urged toward the base 28 of the mounting member 18.

Movement of the roller supporting member 17 and the roller 11 toward the base 23 by the springs 24 and 25 is limited by engagement of a web portion 31 of the roller supporting member 17 with an outer surface 32 of the mounting member 13, and the roller 11 is held yieldingly in the door stopping position, shown in FIG. 1, by the springs 24 and 25. In this position, pivotal movement of the roller 11 away from the door frame F is prevented by engagement of the roller 11 with the front surface 21 of the mounting member 18, so that swinging movement of the door D in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 1 is effectively prevented during normal operation of the door.

If, however, under emergency conditions, a substantial force is applied to the door in the direction of the arrow A, the springs 24 and 25 will yield to allow slight outward linear movement of the roller 11 and supporting member 17, relatively to the mounting member 18 through linear movement of the pivot pin 22 in the slot 23. This movement is sufficient to allow the roller 11 to clear the front limiting surface 21 of the mounting member 18, so that roller 11 can pivot over the outer surface 32, as shown in FIG. 2, to allow complete opening of the door in the direction of the arrow A. In this position of the roller 11, the springs 24 and 25 act to pull the roller 11 against the outer surface 32 to thereby retain the roller in this released position.

The stop may be easily reset manually after the door has been returned to closed position by applying pressure to a tab 35, formed integrally with the web 31 of the roller supporting member 17, to push the roller 11 oif the outer surface 32 so that the springs 24 and 25 again urge the roller to the door stopping position shown in FIG. 1.

The mounting member 18 may be secured to the door D in any suitable manner, such as by the screws 33 and 34 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, which extend through holes 35 and 36 formed through the mounting member 18.

A stop pin 37 mounted in the side 20 of the mounting member 18 prevents disassembly of the roller supporting member 17 and springs 24 and 25, prior to mounting of the stop on the door. Engagement of the tab 35 with a sloping outer surface 38 of the mounting member 1%,

limits pivotal movement of the roller 11 toward the door frame F, when the roller 11 is in the position as shown in FIG. 1.

From the preceding description, it can be seen that there is provided a very simple, relatively inexpensive panic release door stop which can be easily mounted on the inside surface of a door to prevent opening of a swinging door in one direction during normal operation of the door, but which will yield under force to allow opening of the door under emergency conditions. Through the novel mounting of the dog of the stop for linear and pivotal movement, substantially the full force of the springs is utilized to prevent the door from being opened, while very little additional force is necessary to pivot the roller to release position, as the only force resisting such pivotal movement is the frictional forces between the roller and the outer surface of the mounting member. Thus, marring of the door frame as the door swings open after release of the door stop is minimized.

While a preferred form of the invention has been shown and described, it will be appreciated that this is for the purpose of illustration and that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I now claim:

1. A panic release door stop comprising,

a roller,

a channel shaped roller supporting member slidably received on said mounting member with the legs of said roller supporting member extending along opposite sides of said mounting member,

means rotatably mounting said roller between the legs of said roller supporting member,

an elongated slot extending through said mounting member between said opposite sides of said mounting member,

a pivot pin secured between the free ends of said legs of said roller supporting member and extending through said slot whereby said roller mounting member may move between a position in which said roller is in a door stopping position along the front of said mounting member and a position in which said roller clears said front of the mounting member to allow said roller to pivot away from said door stopping position to a door releasing position, and

spring means within said mounting member extending between a portion of said mounting member and said pivot pin and yieldingly holding said roller supporting member in the position in which said roller is in said door stopping position, but yielding under substantial force applied to said roller to allow sufficient movement of said roller to clear said front of said mounting member and pivot to said door releasing position.

2. A panic release door stop comprising,

a mounting member,

a roller,

2. channel shaped roller supporting member slidably received on said mounting member with the legs of said roller supporting member extending along opposite sides of said mounting member,

means rotatably mounting said roller between the legs of said roller supporting member,

an elongated slot extending through said mounting member between said opposite sides of said mounting member,

a pivot pin secured between the free ends of said legs of said roller supporting member and extending through said slot whereby said roller mounting member may move between a position in which said roller is in a door stopping position along the front of said mounting member and a position in which said roller clears said front of the mounting member to allow said roller to pivot away from said door stopping position to a door releasing position,

spring means within said mounting member extending between a portion of said mounting member and said pivot pin and yieldingly holding said roller supporting member in said position in which said roller is in said door stopping position, said spring means yielding under substantial force applied to said roller to allow sufficient movement of said roller to clear said front of said mounting member and pivot to said door releasing position, and

an outer surface on said mounting member against which said spring means pulls said roller when said roller is in said door releasing position to hold said roller in said position.

3. An emergency release door stop comprising, a mounting member having a limiting surface, a dog supporting member, a (log mounted on said dog supporting member, pivot means spaced from said dog and mounting said dog supporting member for pivotal movement relative to said mounting member, means mounting said pivot means for linear movement relatively to said mounting member in a direction substantially parallel to said limiting surface between a position in which said dog is in a door holding position opposite said limiting surface whereby engagement of said dog with said limiting surface prevents pivotal movement of said dog supporting member in one direction and a position in which said dog clears said limiting surface whereby said dog and dog supporting member may pivot relatively to said mounting member in said one direction to a door releasing position, and spring means yieldingly holding said pivot means in said position in which said dog is opposite said limiting surface to prevent pivotal movement of said dog supporting means in said one direction, said spring means yielding under substantial force applied to said dog to allow said pivot means to move linearly to said position in which said dog clears said limiting surface whereby said dog supporting member and dog may pivot relatively to said mounting means in said one direction to said door releasing position.

4. An emergency release door stop comprising, a mounting member having a limiting surface, a dog supporting member, a dog mounted on said dog supporting member, pivot means spaced from said dog and mounting said dog supporting member for pivotal movement relative to said mounting member, means mounting said pivot means for linear movement relatively to said limiting surface in a direction substantially parallel to said limiting surface between a position in which said dog is in a door holding position opposite said limiting surface whereby engagement of said dog with said limiting surface prevents pivotal movement of said dog supporting member in one direction and a position in which said dog clears said limiting surface whereby said dog and dog supporting member may pivot relatively to said mounting member in said one direction to a door releasing position, and spring means yieldingly holding said pivot means in said position in which said dog is opposite said limiting surface to prevent pivotal movement of said dog supporting means in said one direction, said spring means yielding under substantial force applied to said dog to allow said pivot means to move linearly to said position in which said dog clears said limiting surface whereby said dog supporting member and dog may pivot relatively to said mounting means in said one direction to said door releasing position, and a second limiting surface on said mounting member at an angle to said first limiting surface against which said spring means holds said dog to retain said dog in said door releasing position.

5. An emergency release door stop comprising, a mounting member having a limiting surface, a roller supporting member, a roller rotatably mounted on said supporting member, pivot means spaced from said roller and mounting said roller supporting member for pivotal movement relative to said mounting member, means mounting said pivot means for linear movement relatively to said mounting member in a direction substantially parallel to said limiting surface between a position in which said roller is in a door holding position opposite said limiting surface whereby engagement of said roller with said limiting surface prevents pivotal movement of said roller supporting member in one direction and a position in which said roller clears said limiting surface whereby said roller and roller supporting member may pivot relatively to said mounting member in said one direction to a door releasing position, and spring means yieldingly holding said pivot means in said position in which said roller is opposite said limiting surface to prevent pivotal movement of said roller supporting means, said spring means yielding under substantial force applied to said roller to allow said pivot means to move linearly to said position in which said roller clears said limiting surface whereby said roller supporting member and roller may pivot relatively to said mounting means in said one direction to said door releasing position.

6. An emergency release door stop comprising, a mounting member having a limiting surface, a roller supporting member, a roller rotatably mounted on said supporting member, pivot means spaced from said roller and mounting said roller supporting member for pivotal movement relative to said mounting member, means mounting said pivot means for linear movement relatively to said mounting member in a direction substantially parallel to said limiting surface between a position in which said roller in a door holding position is opposite said limiting surface whereby engagement of said roller with said limiting surface prevents pivotal movement of said roller supporting member in one direction and a position in which said roller clears said limiting surface whereby said roller and roller supporting member may pivot rela-' tively to said mounting member in said one direction to a door releasing position, and spring means yieldingly holding said pivot means in said position in which said roller is opposite said limiting surface to prevent pivotal movement of said roller supporting means, said spring means yielding under substantial force applied to said roller to allow said pivot means to move linearly to said position in which said roller clears said limiting surface whereby said roller supporting member and roller may pivot relatively to said mounting means in said one direction to said door releasing position, and a second limiting surface on said mounting member at an angle to said first limiting surface against which said spring means holds said roller to retain said roller in said door releasing position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,226,037 Westcamp Dec. 24, 1940 2,464,383 Edwards et al Mar. 15, 1949 2,527,032 Riley Oct. 24, 1950 2,554,442 Ehret May 22, 1951 

1. A PANIC RELEASE DOOR STOP COMPRISING, A ROLLER, A CHANNEL SHAPED ROLLER SUPPORTING MEMBER SLIDABLY RECEIVED ON SAID MOUNTING MEMBER WITH THE LEGS OF SAID ROLLER SUPPORTING MEMBER EXTENDING ALONG OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID MOUNTING MEMBER, MEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTING SAID ROLLER BETWEEN THE LEGS OF SAID ROLLER SUPPORTING MEMBER, AN ELONGATED SLOT EXTENDING THROUGH SAID MOUNTING MEMBER BETWEEN SAID OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID MOUNTING MEMBER, A PIVOT PIN SECURED BETWEEN THE FREE ENDS OF SAID LEGS OF SAID ROLLER SUPPORTING MEMBER AND EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLOT WHEREBY SAID ROLLER MOUNTING MEMBER MAY MOVE BETWEEN A POSITION IN WHICH SAID ROLLER IS IN A DOOR STOPPING POSITION ALONG THE FRONT OF SAID MOUNTING MEMBER AND POSITION IN WHICH SAID ROLLER CLEARS AND FRONT OF THE MOUNTING MEMBER TO ALLOW SAID ROLLER TO PIVOT AWAY FROM SAID DOOR STOPPING POSITION TO A DOOR RELEASING POSITION, AND SPRING MEANS WITHIN SAID MOUNTING MEMBER EXTENDING BETWEEN A PORTION OF SAID MOUNTING MEMBER AND SAID PIVOT PIN AND YIELDING HOLDING SAID ROLLER SUPPORTING MEMBER IN THE POSITION, IN WHICH SAID ROLLER IS IN SAID DOOR STOPPING POSITION, BUY YIELDING UNDER SUBSTANTIAL FORCE APPLIED TO SAID ROLLER TO ALLOW SUFFICIENT MOVEMENT OF SAID ROLLER TO CLEAR SAID FRONT OF SAID MOUNTING MEMBER AND PIVOT TO SAID DOOR RELEASING POSITION. 